Flight crew distraction traffic avoidance turn, loses 300 ft. Altitude deviation altitude excursion.

Attributes
ACN	346331
Time
Date	199608
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2700 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bwi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise other cruise other descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6900 flight time type : 3800
ASRS Report	346331
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	346520
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 12000 vertical : 0
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While being vectored by bwi approach on a 330 degree assigned heading for an ILS runway 28 circle to runway 33R we noticed a target on our TCASII screen at 4-5 mi out at 12 O'clock and same altitude. As this target approached our 2.5 mi ring on the TCASII, baltimore approach gave us a right turn to 60 degrees for the impending traffic avoidance. PF (myself) turned rapidly to the right to avoid a RA. I simultaneously was trying to visually acquire the traffic, in the turn and lost 300 ft of altitude. ATC came on and said maintain 3000 ft and then gave us a tight left turn to 260 degree heading to re- intercept the localizer for runway 28 approach. We never visually acquired the traffic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC DISTR TFC AVOIDANCE TURN, LOSES 300 FT. ALTDEV ALT EXCURSION.

Narrative: WHILE BEING VECTORED BY BWI APCH ON A 330 DEG ASSIGNED HDG FOR AN ILS RWY 28 CIRCLE TO RWY 33R WE NOTICED A TARGET ON OUR TCASII SCREEN AT 4-5 MI OUT AT 12 O'CLOCK AND SAME ALT. AS THIS TARGET APCHED OUR 2.5 MI RING ON THE TCASII, BALTIMORE APCH GAVE US A R TURN TO 60 DEGS FOR THE IMPENDING TFC AVOIDANCE. PF (MYSELF) TURNED RAPIDLY TO THE R TO AVOID A RA. I SIMULTANEOUSLY WAS TRYING TO VISUALLY ACQUIRE THE TFC, IN THE TURN AND LOST 300 FT OF ALT. ATC CAME ON AND SAID MAINTAIN 3000 FT AND THEN GAVE US A TIGHT L TURN TO 260 DEG HDG TO RE- INTERCEPT THE LOC FOR RWY 28 APCH. WE NEVER VISUALLY ACQUIRED THE TFC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.